Title: Method and device for acoustic management contorl of multiple microphones.Abstract: An earpiece (100) and a method (640) for acoustic management of multiple microphones is provided. The method can include capturing an ambient acoustic signal from an Ambient Sound Microphone (ASM) to produce an electronic ambient signal, capturing in an ear canal an internal sound from an Ear Canal Microphone (ECM) to produce an electronic internal signal, measuring a background noise signal, and mixing the electronic ambient signal with the electronic internal signal in a ratio dependent on the background noise signal to produce a mixed signal. The mixing can adjust an internal gain of the electronic internal signal and an external gain of the electronic ambient signal based on the background noise characteristics. The mixing can account for an acoustic attenuation level and an audio content level of the earpiece. ...

This Application is a Continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 12/135,816, filed Jun. 9, 2008 which is Continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 12/115,349 filed May 5, 2008, which claims the priority benefit of Provisional Application No. 60/916,271 filed on May 4, 2007, the entire disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD

The present invention pertains to sound reproduction, sound recording, audio communications and hearing protection using earphone devices designed to provide variable acoustical isolation from ambient sounds while being able to audition both environmental and desired audio stimuli. Particularly, the present invention describes a method and device for controlling a voice communication system by monitoring the user's voice with an ambient sound microphone and an ear canal microphone.

BACKGROUND

People use portable communication devices primarily for voice communications and music listening enjoyment. A mobile device or headset generally includes a microphone and a speaker. In noisy conditions, background noises can degrade the quality of the listening experience. Noise suppressors attempt to attenuate the contribution of background noise in order to enhance the listening experience.

In an earpiece, multiple microphones can be used to provide additional noise suppression. A need however exists for acoustic management control of the multiple microphones.

SUMMARY

Embodiments in accordance with the present invention provide a method and device for acoustic management control of multiple microphones.

In a first embodiment, a method for acoustic management control suitable for use in an earpiece can include the steps of capturing an ambient acoustic signal from at least one Ambient Sound Microphone (ASM) to produce an electronic ambient signal, capturing in an ear canal an internal sound from at least one Ear Canal Microphone (ECM) to produce an electronic internal signal, measuring a background noise signal from the electronic ambient signal or the electronic internal signal, and mixing the electronic ambient signal with the electronic internal signal in a ratio dependent on the background noise signal to produce a mixed signal.

The method can include increasing an internal gain of the electronic internal signal while decreasing an external gain of the electronic ambient signal when the background noise levels increase. The method can similarly include decreasing an internal gain of the electronic internal signal while increasing an external gain of the electronic ambient signal when the background noise levels decrease. Frequency weighted selective mixing can also be performed when mixing the signals. The mixing can include filtering the electronic ambient signal and the electronic internal signal based on a characteristic of the background noise signal, such as a level of the background noise level, a spectral profile, or an envelope fluctuation.

In a second embodiment, a method for acoustic management control suitable for use in an earpiece can include the steps of capturing an ambient acoustic signal from at least one Ambient Sound Microphone (ASM) to produce an electronic ambient signal, capturing in an ear canal an internal sound from at least one Ear Canal Microphone (ECM) to produce an electronic internal signal, detecting a spoken voice signal generated by a wearer of the earpiece from the electronic ambient signal or the electronic internal signal, measuring a background noise level from the electronic ambient signal or the electronic internal signal when the spoken voice signal is not detected, and mixing the electronic ambient signal with the electronic internal signal as a function of the background noise level to produce a mixed signal.

In a third embodiment, an earpiece for acoustic management control can include an Ambient Sound Microphone (ASM) configured to capture ambient sound and produce an electronic ambient signal, an Ear Canal Receiver (ECR) to deliver audio content to an ear canal to produce an acoustic audio content, an Ear Canal Microphone (ECM) configured to capture internal sound in an ear canal and produce an electronic internal signal, and a processor operatively coupled to the ASM, the ECM and the ECR. The processor can be configured to measure a background noise signal from the electronic ambient signal or the electronic internal signal, and mix the electronic ambient signal with the electronic internal signal in a ratio dependent on the background noise signal to produce a mixed signal.

The processor can filter the electronic ambient signal and the electronic internal signal based on a characteristic of the background noise signal using filter coefficients stored in memory or filter coefficients generated algorithmically. An echo suppressor operatively coupled to the processor can suppress in the mixed signal an echo of spoken voice generated by a wearer of the earpiece when speaking. The processor can also generate a voice activity level for the spoken voice and applies gains to the electronic ambient signal and the electronic internal signal as a function of the background noise level and the voice activity level.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a pictorial diagram of an earpiece in accordance with an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the earpiece in accordance with an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram for an acoustic management module in accordance with an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a schematic for the acoustic management module of FIG. 3 illustrating a mixing of an external microphone signal with an internal microphone signal as a function of a background noise level and voice activity level in accordance with an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a more detailed schematic of the acoustic management module of FIG. 3 illustrating a mixing of an external microphone signal with an internal microphone signal based on a background noise level and voice activity level in accordance with an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a method for an audio mixing system to mix an external microphone signal with an internal microphone signal based on a background noise level and voice activity level in accordance with an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a method for calculating background noise levels in accordance with an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 8 is a block diagram for mixing an external microphone signal with an internal microphone signal based on a background noise level in accordance with an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 9 is a block diagram for an analog circuit for mixing an external microphone signal with an internal microphone signal based on a background noise level in accordance with an exemplary embodiment; and

FIG. 10 is a table illustrating exemplary filters suitable for use with an Ambient Sound Microphone (ASM) and Ear Canal Microphone (ECM) based on measured background noise levels (BNL) in accordance with an exemplary embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following description of at least one exemplary embodiment is merely illustrative in nature and is in no way intended to limit the invention, its application, or uses.

Processes, techniques, apparatus, and materials as known by one of ordinary skill in the relevant art may not be discussed in detail but are intended to be part of the enabling description where appropriate, for example the fabrication and use of transducers.

In all of the examples illustrated and discussed herein, any specific values, for example the sound pressure level change, should be interpreted to be illustrative only and non-limiting. Thus, other examples of the exemplary embodiments could have different values.

Note that similar reference numerals and letters refer to similar items in the following figures, and thus once an item is defined in one figure, it may not be discussed for following figures.

How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREEservice from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Method and device for acoustic management contorl of multiple microphones or other areas of interest.###

Data source: patent applications published in the public domain by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Information published here is for research/educational purposes only. FreshPatents is not affiliated with the USPTO, assignee companies, inventors, law firms or other assignees. Patent applications, documents and images may contain trademarks of the respective companies/authors. FreshPatents is not responsible for the accuracy, validity or otherwise contents of these public document patent application filings. When possible a complete PDF is provided, however, in some cases the presented document/images is an abstract or sampling of the full patent application for display purposes. FreshPatents.com Terms/Support -g2-0.3296

20130214|20130039518|for acoustic management contorl of multiple microphones|An earpiece (100) and a method (640) for acoustic management of multiple microphones is provided. The method can include capturing an ambient acoustic signal from an Ambient Sound Microphone (ASM) to produce an electronic ambient signal, capturing in an ear canal an internal sound from an Ear Canal Microphone (ECM) |Personics-Holdings-Inc